Oro-nasal patient interface

Abstract

A patient interface includes a frame including a single sheet of textile material and a seal-forming structure provided to the frame. A first edge of the sheet of textile material is joined to a second edge of the sheet of textile material such that the frame adopts a predetermined three-dimensional shape that is maintained throughout the patient's respiratory cycle.

1 . A patient interface for sealed delivery of a flow of air at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to the patient's airways including at least entrance of a patient's nares, wherein the patient interface is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of about 4 cmH2O to about 30 cmH2O above ambient air pressure in use, throughout the patient's respiratory cycle, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing,
 said patient interface comprising:   a frame including a single sheet of textile material,   wherein a first edge of the sheet of textile material is joined to a second edge of the sheet of textile material such that the frame adopts a predetermined three-dimensional shape that is maintained throughout the patient's respiratory cycle; and   a seal-forming structure provided to the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The patient interface according to  claim 1 , wherein the single sheet of textile material comprises a chin portion, the chin portion comprising side portions, wherein the side portions are connected to an interior surface of the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The patient interface according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame is more rigid than the seal-forming structure to support and shape the seal-forming structure in use. 
     
     
         4 . The patient interface according to  claim 3 , wherein the frame provides support surfaces structured and arranged to support and hold the seal-forming structure in predetermined shapes to closely match contours of the patient's nose and/or mouth. 
     
     
         5 . The patient interface according to  claim 4 , wherein the frame is structured to impart a predetermined three-dimensional shape to the seal-forming structure. 
     
     
         6 . The patient interface according to  claim 4 , wherein the support surfaces include different curvatures in different regions along its perimeter to impart different shapes or curvatures in different regions of the seal-forming structure. 
     
     
         7 . The patient interface according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one side of the textile material includes an air impermeable surface. 
     
     
         8 . The patient interface according to  claim 7 , wherein the air impermeable surface comprises a silicone layer. 
     
     
         9 . The patient interface according to  claim 1 , further comprising an internal structural support provided to the frame to provide further support for the seal-forming structure. 
     
     
         10 . The patient interface according to  claim 1 , wherein the first edge is joined to the second edge to form a front joint that acts as a central spine for the frame. 
     
     
         11 . The patient interface according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame and the seal-forming structure cooperate to form a plenum chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The patient interface according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame provides an interface with an air delivery tube and headgear. 
     
     
         13 . The patient interface according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a pair of upper headgear connectors and a pair of lower headgear connectors to provide a 4-point connection the headgear. 
     
     
         14 . The patient interface according to  claim 1 , further comprising a vent provided to the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The patient interface according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal-forming structure comprises a nasal cushion configured and arranged to form a seal around a lower portion of the patient's nose below the patient's nasal bridge. 
     
     
         16 . The patient interface according to  claim 15 , wherein the seal-forming structure further comprises a mouth cushion configured and arranged to form a seal around at least a portion of the patient's mouth at least along the sides of the mouth and along the lower lip/chin region. 
     
     
         17 . The patient interface according to  claim 16 , wherein the nasal cushion comprises a foam material and a textile material, and the mouth cushion comprises a foam material. 
     
     
         18 . The patient interface according to  claim 17 , wherein the mouth cushion further comprises a textile material. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a patient interface suitable for sealed delivery of a flow of air at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to an entrance to the patient's airways including at least entrance of a patient's nares, wherein the patient interface is configured to maintain a therapy pressure in a range of about 4 cmH2O to about 30 cmH2O above ambient air pressure in use, throughout the patient's respiratory cycle, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing,
 the method comprising:   forming a textile sheet into a predetermined flat shape;   connecting first and second edges of the textile sheet together to thereby form a frame from the sheet, wherein the frame defines, at least in part, a plenum chamber; and   connecting a seal-forming structure to the frame.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the textile sheet comprises a chin portion, the chin portion comprising side portions, and wherein the method further comprises connecting the side portions to an interior surface of the frame. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising shaping the frame to form support surfaces structured and arranged to support and hold the seal-forming structure in predetermined shapes to closely match contours of the patient's nose and/or mouth. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the support surfaces include different curvatures in different regions along its perimeter to impart different shapes or curvatures in different regions of the seal-forming structure. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising shaping the frame to impart a predetermined three-dimensional shape to the seal-forming structure. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising connecting an internal structural support to the frame to provide further support for the seal-forming structure. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein connecting the first and second edges of the textile sheet together forms a front joint that acts as a central spine for the frame. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein at least one side of the textile sheet includes an air impermeable surface. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the seal-forming structure comprises a nasal cushion configured and arranged to form a seal around a lower portion of the patient's nose below the patient's nasal bridge. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the seal-forming structure further comprises a mouth cushion configured and arranged to form a seal around at least a portion of the patient's mouth at least along the sides of the mouth and along the lower lip/chin region.